Why Am I A Threat?
- SEECOLOR
- Jun 7, 2020
- 4 min read
Opinion by Wedline Charles
Why am I a threat? Why am I protesting for my existence? Why does ending racism seem to be an issue? I am currently struggling with my emotions because there are people out there who do not even know me, yet they think I am deserving of their unfounded hate. Seeing so many videos of the black community, my community, being killed hurts. Knowing that black people are seen to have no rightful place in a society that we have contributed so much to sickens me. Our music, our style, our culture has been consumed by society, yet are lives remain unappreciated. People with my skin color are hunted and killed with no explanation. Even within our cries for help, this country finds a way to ignore our concerns and call us “thugs” It’s funny because I used to have plans for when Covid-19 is over, but I don’t know if I want to go out anymore. Even though I was so excited to start driving, now I don’t know if I want to drive anywhere. All that because the color of my skin makes me target for police brutality. To have that fear held over you every time you step outside is something that nobody should experience. All black people want is the same right to live like every other human out here. I have a black family and black friends. I should not be scared that one day I will wake up and they are gone because of someone’s hatred towards their race. When can I feel comfortable as a black woman? Please if you have the time, educate yourself, and be a part of a movement not only for the black community, but for all communities to be safer. A change needs to happen, and it needs to happen now. We are making history, and when you look back on this, I hope you can tell whoever in the future, that you helped.
I have been discriminated against based on my skin color, and seen it happen to other black people as well. From being followed around in a store to being told how “dark” you are invokes a sense of alienation in you from a young age. I vividly remember the disgust on the face of the woman who told my brother that he had no rights in elementary school…
We have a president who does not understand why people are protesting. We have a president who referred to the 2nd amendment to justify why protesters should be shot. We have a president demanding that martial law be used to harm his own citizens INSTEAD of doing what is s right: arresting the police officers involved in George Floyd’s death and fixing the justice system. He referred to black people as thugs, poor and uneducated. Why is he in office? For him to defame his own citizens is detestable, and his insults reach beyond not black people to all people of color. He constantly refers to COVID-19 as the “Chinese Virus”, which encouraged people to blame Asian Americans for the start of the COVID-19. In addition, he labelled Hispanic people as illegals and teared families apart with ICE. Do you see the pattern? This man cannot be reelected. For anyone voting this year, choose wisely, because the future of this country depends on the outcome.
The Black Lives Matter movement started from Trayvon Martin’s murder and has been fighting against police brutality ever since.
For those who are not familiar with Trayvon Martin’s case here is an article about it:
In short Trayvon Martin was walking home from the convenience store when he was fatally shot by George Zimmerman, who has been arrested many times over the years. Zimmerman reported the “suspiciousness” of Trayvon, but he was advised to not follow him. Mind you, Martin just bought candy and was walking home. In the end, Zimmerman was found not guilty, and his murder charge was dropped. Yes, all lives matter but how can that be true if a part of that group is being mistreated by the people who are supposed to be protecting them. Right now, black lives matter and once everyone understands that, then we can say that all lives matter.
Although I don’t agree with all aspects of the current protests, before a change can happen, there must be a revolution. Look at history: How did white Americans gain independence from Britain? The black community has experienced years of oppression. From being enslaved to being segregated to now, where will are still being belittled and for the color of our skin Do you know how hard it is to live that way for years? This protesting is not only years of oppression but years of built up emotional trauma, that is unexplainable unless you’ve experienced it. Thus, this built up angers manifesting itself in the streets with protesters.No, I don’t condone the looting of businesses and vandalism but the fact that we’ve been peacefully protesting for years against police brutality with no changes shows that social issues pertaining to black people are ignored. Therefore, if you are protesting please don’t be out there for the wrong reasons. The goal is to bring attention to the situation without violence. Also, there have been many violent protesting from unnecessary things such as football games where people have destroyed property over sports. This is relevant because the protesting that are happening now are used for justice, while those protesting for sports which did cause property damage as well and weren’t peaceful as the protesting now.
Vancouver Stanley Cup riot, 2011
Lexington Kentucky, 2012
Death toll between 27-150
A profound difference between the 20th century and now is how all 50 states are coming together to protest police brutality. However, there remains an issue. Some of you have probably never heard of those sport riots or the Rosewood Massacre. That is because they were not seen as an issue, but when people are protesting for their rights and for justice it is. There are people fighting with violence to silence these protests. Where were the curfews when COVID-19 became a pandemic?
Seeing how the police are threatened by the very existence of black people is disheartening. The good cops that are there, should be an example, protest with the people, or quit the job that doesn’t seem to be doing its job. Also, just because there are good cops, it does not change the amount of wrong in the system, that is still happening till this day. Good cops are not silent.
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